Camera's do you use?

[Renee Marquis]

Help I just sold my two Canon 1D's 4MP and wanting to buy new ones... I have no qlue which one(s) to get.... I LOVED my canon 1D the only reason selling them was because of the low 4mp and the sensor is so out dated....
HELP PLEASE I dont like the Canon 5D because it feel like a toy, you would have to laugh because I am a girl and the 1d's are so much more heaver.
I have an 85 lens, 28-135 lens and 70-200 lens... I want a main camera and then another for backup and so that I can use also with another lens on and just pick up and shot instead of swithching lenses all the time.... ANY help would be great.

[tonymidd]

Hi Renee,
unless you bite the bullet and sell your lenses you're stuck with Canon. First question do you realy need a full frame sensor? If not a brace of 20D's would be one solution. If you need full frame and don't like the 5D you have to go to the 1Ds with a 20D for backup, a lot of $.
If you can I'd wait until PMA to see what's announced then, it's about time for Canon to change something.

[tonymidd]

Just been informed my D200 body will be on todays carrier. This sounds a fabulous camera, how Nikon are supplying what's virtually a D2x for half the price I don't know. http://www.wedding-photography.org/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://www.wedding-photography.org/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I'll post first impressions as soon as I can with some sample shots.

Renee it may pay you to cost out selling your Canon lenses and going Nikon.
A D200 with a D70 backup and a couple of lenses would make a nice outfit.

[Renee Marquis]

Hate to say it but I am canon all the way, they are just so much more advance then the other. All most all the top wedding photographers here in the state are using canon Dennis Reggie, DavidJay, but which camera is better canon or nikon? The answer is neither, they are both great camera systems you just have to find the one that fits you and the way to work best. I really like the speed of the 1D. I have a Nikon N90 film and dont use it much. Any one want to buy it....?

[tonymidd]

Hi Renee,
Hear what you are saying but just because all the others use Canons does not mean you have to, a lot of people round here drive Fords but I don't.

I've just received my D200, first impression was weight and quality. The battery is on charge so I've not yet explored it. It feels like a F4 or 5. All the buttons and switches are very positive. As usual a 200 page manual is with it, http://www.wedding-photography.org/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif Remember when you bought a film camera and just started to use it? http://www.wedding-photography.org/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

[StagePhotography.co.uk]

What's a Manual? :)

My D70 (backup) is very light.... The S3 Pro, quite chunky esp with a large lens on but still quite light in my opinion....

[tonymidd]

Open the box and lift it out and the thought is 'this is heavy'.
There is a quality feel to the body, it's slightly bigger than a D70 and smaller than a D2x with a nice balanced weight. The mag alloy chassis is covered in a soft to the touch textured rubber(?) covering. Buttons and switches are firm to the touch and positive inaction. Feels like my old F4, a solid no nonsense Nikon feel and fits the hand beautifully. Anyone familiar with the D70 startup menu would be at home with this to get the basics set. You do need the manual, all 200 pages, for some of the more clever settings which I've yet to explore. The LCD readout on the camera top is BIG and clear. You know you're going to get seriousely large files when you pop in a 1 gig card and you see 60 RAW images instead of the 94 that the D70 would have taken on that card. All in all any one used to aD70 would be able to start using the D200 without a problem for basic photography. Look thru the viewfinder and the D70 user is pleasently surprised, it's BIG and very clear even with my f3.5 35-70mm on. The info along the base of the screen is also clear and visible even with specs on.
Opened files are also BIG, fine (1:4) jpeg opens in PS CS2 at 12.9"x8.6" (3872 x 2592 pixels) and 28.7M
A RAW file opens at the same physical size and 57.4M when you can get it open! This brings me on to the gripe I have about this camera and it's not the camera's fault. For £1.3k you'd think Nikon would supply Nikon Capture 4.4 to allow proper RAW conversions and also remote control of the camera. What do you get? Nikon Picture Project 1.6 which for serious work is c**p. The cost to Nikon to include NC is peanuts, the RRP is about £140. I think this is not good marketing on Nikons part especially with the UK price loading.
Picture Project is OK for the consumer cameras but for a tool like the D200 it's an insult. I had NC 4.1 on my machine so I had to download the upgrade to 4.2 and then upgrade that to 4.4. At least it cost nowt; only time. PS CS2 just does not recognise NEF files off the D200 nor does either version of RSE. I've not tried Bibble or Irfanview yet.
First shot is fine jpeg straight off the camera in very dull conditions, second RAW as it came off the camera and finally a slightly tweeked RAW.
I should think there are some long faces at Canon and Fuji, this camera is fantastic.

[JTPhoto]

I use a 1DmkII and a 10D as backup. For you Renee I would suggest a 1DmkII with a 20D for backup. IMO the low noise ability of Canon CMOS sensors is far superior to the others, especially for weddings and portraits.

Each to his(her) own, what ever works best for you. The Photographer is still more important then the equipment...